Fastener assembly apparatus



y 1964 R. w. LYDAY ETAL FASTENEIR ASSEMBLY APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22 1961 INVENTOR3 RICHARD W. LYDAY CLETUS L.NOORI1AN THEIR ATTORNEY y 7, 1964 R. w. LYDAY ETAL 3,139,674

FASTENER ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1961 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RICHARD w. LYDAY n CLETUS L. NOORMAN THEIR ATI ORNEY July 7, 1964 R. w. LY ET L 3,139,674 FASTEN ER ASS APPARA Filed June 22, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 C ET L. MOORHAN THEIR 'ATTCSBNEY y 1964 R. w. LYDAY ETAL 3,139,674

FASTENER ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 i I I w INVENTORS RICHARD W. LYDAY CLETU5 L. NOORNAN iga i/j 1 1 24/4/11 5Y a mm ATTOIRNEY July 7, 1964 Filed June 22, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 1NVENTOR5 RICHARD L CLETUS L. P1008 N THEIR ATTORNEY y 7, 1964 R. w. LYDAY ETAL 3,139,674

FASTENER ASSEMBLY APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS RICHARD w. LYDAY CLETUfi L HOORHAN Filed June 22, 1961 THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,139,674 FASTENER ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Richard W. Lyday, Brookville, and Cletus L. Moorman,

Trotwood, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 22, 1961, Ser. No. 118,836 11 Claims. (Cl. 29-208) This invention relates to mechanism to assemble articles of manufacture such as fastening devices to elastomeric sealing strip means.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for elastomeric sealing strip and mounting device assembly free of necessity for stopping the sealing strip feeding in predetermined locations or stations.

Another object of this invention is to provide assembly apparatus or fixture means to install plastic fastening devices for a continuously moving elastomeric sealing strip means which need not be stopped for insertion stations because a multi-position rotatable head can effect placement of oblong-headed nail-like fastening devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotational mechanism to assemble plastic fastening devices with elongated heads into lateral holes for access to a continuously-extending longitudinal cavity of an extruded elastomeric sealing strip means which is movable at a predetermined speed as carried by a nest-like portion while a fastening device is oriented and loaded in one positioning of one of a pair of hollow reciprocable sleevelike members shiftable by a cam actuation in response to movement of an assembly head at a reed of rotation slightly greater than rate of travel of the strip means in order to elongate the hole sufficiently to permit entry of the elongated head, there being a corresponding reciprocable sleeve-like member loadable with another fastening device upon release of a previous fastening device from the other reciprocable sleeve-like member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a completely mechanical system for use on apparatus to assemble plastic nail-like fastening devices in predetermined locations along an elastomeric sealing strip having a longitudinally extending cavity adjacent to an underside thereof and including nest-like feeder means in which the elastomeric sealing strip is retained for movement in a predetermined path along which tripping an actuator can effect rotation of an assembly head at a speed of rotation tangentially slightly greater than rate of travel of strip means in order to elongate an access hole to the cavity as an elongated head of the fastening device enters the hole in the strip to elongate the same to permit a trailing edge of the head to enter the hole, there being a pair of substantially diagonally reciprocable sleeve-like members subject to rotation and shifting axially thereof in response to following of roller means carried by the members and engageable in a cam track such that the sleeve-like members move longitudinally of rods fixedly carried by the assembly head and having one end thereof disposed to abut against a fastening device for positive ejection thereof upon completed insertion of the fastening device to a sealing strip which does not have to effect transmission of force to remove the fastening device from a sleeve-like member, one of the reciprocable sleeve-like members being retracted and returned to loading position while the counterpart thereof is in an insertion part of a cycle of operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

3,139,674 Patented July 7, 1964 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an end view of apparatus or mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the mechanism of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 5 in FIGURE 3 to illustrate an assembly head with reciprocable sleeve-like members one of which is in loading position for a fastening device on an end of one member.

FIGURE 6 illustrates structure of FIGURE 5 as cam controlled rotative movement begins at a rate of speed tangentially greater than rate of feeding movement of a sealing strip means adjacent thereto.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a fastening device carried by one member as the fastening device begins to enter a hole in the sealing strip means.

FIGURE 8 illustrates ejection and release of a fastening device inserted and assembled dynamically to the moving sealing strip means.

FIGURE 9 is a plan View of a fastening device insertable on a sealing strip by assembly procedure in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectioned elevational view taken along line 1010 in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectioned end View taken along line 11-11 in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of a fastening device similar to that of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectioned elevational view taken along line 13-13 in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectioned end view taken along line 1414 in FIGURE 12.

In a copending application S.N. 126,419, Harris et a1. filed on even date herewith and belonging to the assignee of the present invention there is a disclosure of apparatus and method manufacture to assemble elastomeric sealing strip means and fastening devices to each other requiring multi-station stopping of movement of a sealing strip means. Further disclosure as to the sealing strip means per se can be found in a copending application S.N. 71,463 filed November 25, 1960, now Patent 3,110,- 938, Beck et al. issued November 19, 1963, and belonging to the assignee of the present invention. The sealing strip can be extruded or molded to have a preformed shape subject to mounting adjacent to a vehicle door, for example, as well as any other peripheral edge of an opening subject to closure by a cover and the like. In the aforementioned application S.N. 126,419, Harris et al. there is provision for aperturing an underside of a sealing strip so as to provide access to a longitudinally extending cavity in which head portions of plastic nail-like fastening devices such as disclosed in a copending application S.N. 118,918, Moorman filed on even date herewith and belonging to the assignee of the present invention can be installed in a subsequent station where a stop is made to permit further mechanism to dilate the hole or aperture formed in the sealing strip. Each of the embodiments of inserter mechanism for use in the second station of the previously noted apparatus requires a stop to be made in response to solenoid switch actuation by a peg or pin projecting from a feeder means. The present disclosure relates to inserter mechanism and procedure for use in place of the inserter mechanism disclosed in the aforementioned copending application and adapted for use subsequent to aperturing of the sealing strip means for access to a longitudinally extending cavity be accomplished by a drilling operation and the like which can occur either by having a brief interruption of the movement of the sealing strip prior to assembly of fastening devices to elastomeric sealing strip means or by indexing a drilling means of a type shown in the copending application such that such drilling means also moves concurrently to follow a longitudinal path of movement of a sealing strip means while performing a drilling operation. However, the performance of such a prior aperturing does not form part of the present invention an inserter mechanism, assembly apparatus, or fixture means generally indicated by numeral 20 in views of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings can effect installation of plastic fastening devices for a continuously moving elastomeric sealing strip means which need not be stopped for insertion stations because of mechanical structural features in accordance with the present invention.

The apparatus or mechanism 20 includes a base portion 21 on which a fluid cylinder 22 can be carried or mounted by suitable clamps and the like and inside of which a piston 23 having a rod portion 24 reciprocable therewith in a to and fro movement accomplished in response to actuation or tripping of a flow control valve 25 which can control speed of to and fro movement of a rack 26 suitably journalled or coupled to the rod 24 by adjustable fittings 27 as visible in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Flow control valve 25 can be actuated in any suitable manner such as by pegs or pins which can engage a switching means to control solenoid energization as noted in the copending 4 in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 can provide structural features and components in accordance with the present invention. The assembly head 50 includes an end plate or cover portion 51 secured by plural cap screws or bolts 52 to a yoke or transverse portion 53 carried by one end of the shaft portion 42 and rotatable together therewith in response to rack and pinion operation to transmit intermittent rotative force as governed by the one-way clutch means 40 mentioned earlier. It is to be noted that the fluid cylinder 22 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 can be either hydraulically or pneumatically operated and can be provided with either a reciprocable piston as noted or with a bellows or other suitable components forming no part of the present invention. The one-way clutch means 40 operates in a conventional manner such as by having the rollers R cooperable with suitable cam surfaces between outer and inner portions 37 and 39, respectively, such that the clutch means can prevent the assembly head 50 and shaft portion 7 42 for journalling thereof from moving backwards or in application wherein similar structure is provided to effect actuation of the drilling means as well as an actuator effective to operate inserter mechanism. The specific tripping mechanism forms no part of the present invention which relates particularly to a rugged inserter mechanism that avoids use of multiple spring means during assembly of a plastic nail-like fastening device to a laterally apertured sealing strip means having a cavity extending longitudinally along one side thereof.

The reciprocable rack 26 has a plurality of teeth or projections 28 adapted to mesh with external projections or teeth 29 of a gear or pinion 30 carried by one end of a shaft 31 suitably journalled by bearing means 32 for rotation relative to an upwardly extending support portion 33 carried by the base portion 21. An end of the shaft 31 in a location remote from the pinion 30 is provided with a splined coupling including a first portion 34 which can beheld tothe shaft 31 by a key 35 as well as a set screw 36 visible in FIGURE 3. This spline coupling can include meshing engagement of teeth between the first portion 34 and a second portion 38 adapted to be mechanically driven thereby though adapted to permit limited axial shift for possible misalignment of components to effect driving of inserter mechanism in accordance with the present invention. The second portion 38 includes an integral reduced diameter portion 39 engageable by a plurality of rolls R and the like of a one-way clutch means generally indicataed by numeral 40 secured by a key connection 41 to one end of a shaft-like portion 42 suitably journalled for rotation with respect to bearing means 43 press fitted to a mounting portion 44 carried by the base portion 21 as well as further bearing means 45 press fitted to a cam plate 46 having a cam track 47 on one side thereof. The shaft portion 42 and bearings 43 and 45 for journalling thereof can be best seen in the view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4. shows more clearly how the cam plate 46 is adjustably'mounted on one side of the mounting portion 44. The cam track 47 includes an offset portion 48 that can be variously positioned for reasons described further in subsequent paragraphs. A pair of arcuate cutouts or slots 49 through which cap screws or bolts B can be fastened to the mounting portion 44 permittightening and loosening and vice versa of the cam plate 46 into predetermined positioning of the offset portion 48 of the cam track 47.'

An assembly head generally indicated by numeral 50 a reverse direction during retraction of the rack 26 upon completion of substantially or semicircular movement of the assembly head 50 during a first portion of a cycle of operation of components in the inserter mechanism or system in accordance with the present invention.

As best seen in views of FIGURES 3 and 5, the assembly head 50 further includes a pair of substantially diagonally located rods or stationary guides 54 fixed or anchored by transverse pins or dowels 55 press fitted between end plate 51 and yoke portion 53. Each rod or guide portion 54 includes an end projection 56 integrally fixed thereto for a purpose noted in a subsequent paragraph. A pair of hollow or sleeve-like diagonally reciprocable member 58 are carried or guided longitudinally relative to the rod or guide portions 54. Each of these substantially diagonally reciprocable sleeve-like members 58 includes a tapered end 59 extending in a direction opposite to that of the other and correspondingly each of the opposite ends thereof is provided with a roller means 60 adapted to follow the cam track 47 and offset 48 of the cam plate 46. Each of the rollers is secured by suitable fastening means such as cap screws 61 immediately adjacent to an end of each of the sleeve-like members 58 in a location remote from the tapered hollow end 59. A shank portion 62 of the fastening means 61 traverses the hollow interior of the sleeve-like member 58 adjacent to an end thereof and provides an abutment or limit stop engaged by one end of a spring means 64 having an opposite end abutting against or in engagement with an end of the rod or guide portion 54 at a location remote from the end projection 56 thereof. This spring means can include at least one coil spring or plural concentrically located coil springs effective to bias and resiliently urge the roller 60 journalled to one end of the shank portion 62 away from the rod or guide portion 54. It is to be noted that to and fro movement of each of the sleeve-like members 58 is further limited and guided by a pair of lateral cutouts or slot-like windows 65 and 66 extending from opposite sides of the hollow interior of the sleeve-like members as best seen in FIGURE 3. The pin or dowel 55 fixed between end plate 51 and yoke portion 53 is engaged by peripheral end surfaces of these cutouts 65-66 to define limit of reciprocable movement of the sleeve-like members 58.

As can be seen in FIGURE 3, a substantially U-shaped track 67 can be mounted adjacent to the base portion 21 and a feeder means 68 having a cavity 69 therein can be passed through and along the U-shaped track 67 so as to effect movement of a sealing strip generally indicated by S in a location radially below and in alignment with the assembly head 50. The sealing strip can include an extruded elastomeric body having integral lip portions L which fit snugly in complementary relation to the recess or channel-like grooves 69 in the feeder means 68. The sealing stripmeans S further includes a longitudinally extending cavity C to which lateral access is provided by openings or apertures A that can be provided in predetermined spaced locations by drilling means as disclosed in the previously mentioned copending application. It is through these openings or apertures A that plastic fastening devices generally indicated by numeral 80 can be fitted to components of the assembly head 50 for progressively inserting movement as illustrated in views of FIGURES 5 through 8. The view of FIGURE 5 illustrates the assembly head 50 with the pair of reciprocable sleeve-like members one of which is in loading position to receive a fastening device 30 having an elongated or oblong head portion 81 integral with a stem portion 82. The stem portion 82 is fitted snugly to an inner peripheral surface of the hollow tapered end 59 when the latter is located adjacent to the offset portion 48 of the cam track 47. The tapered end 59 of this one sleeve-like member 58 is in this upper-lefthand location at a time when the roller 60 carried by the other sleeve-like member 58 has just entered the offset portion 48 forming part of the predetermined path of the cam track 47. Any suitable chute or loading channel can be provided together with suitable gravity feed or mechanical as Well as manual insertion of the fastening device 80 to one such hollow tapered end 59 when the latter is in loading position illustrated by FIGURE 5. Immediately subsequent to loading of a fastening device 80 to the hollow tapered end 59, there can be a tripping or actuation of the fluid cylinder such as 22 to effect rack-pinion movement and engagement of clutch means 40 in one direction to effect 180 movement an initial stage of which is represented by an illustration of FIGURE 6. It is noted that the head screws or bolts B which govern positioning of the cam plate 46 in conjunction with slots 49 therein is such that the particular angular offset of the cam portion 48 can be regulated to control positioning of the tapered end as the latter makes an acute angle in loading position relative to a vertical line theoretically extending through the axis of rotation of the shaft portion 42. As the assembly head 50 continues the substantially 180 rotative movement as represented in an illustration of FIGURE 7, it is to be noted that the rollers 60 carried by each of the sleeve-like members 58 are urged radially inwardly against force of spring means 64 such that the rollers 60 traverse a substantially circular or angular path substantially coinciding for each of the rollers at all times except when one of the rollers enters and traverses the offset cam portion 48.

FIGURE 7 illustrates positioning of the assembly head 50 as a fastening device 80 has one end of the oblong or elongated head portion 81 thereof entering an aperture A of the sealing strip means S in accordance with the present invention. It is to be noted that during rotative movement of the assembly head 50 there is coincident feeding tangentially of the sealing strip S along a path substantially radially in alignment with the assembly head 50 and particularly the one tapered end 59 of one of the pair of sleeve-like reciprocable members 58. The sealing strip feeding movement does not have to be interrupted or stopped during inserting of the fastening device 80 and speed of rotation of the assembly head 50 is tangentially slightly greater than rate of travel of the strip means in order to elongate the access hole or aperture A of the elastomeric sealing strip S during the inserting procedure. A free end of each of the stern portions of the fastening devices 80 can abut against the projection end 56 of the rod or guide portion 54 which cannot move substantially radially either inwardly or outwardly. Thus, the projection end 56 provides radial backing for the stem portion 82 during inserting of the fastening device 80 as the edge or end of the oblong or elongated head portion engages the hole or aperture A of the sealing strip S of elastomeric material. The assembly head 50 rotatably traverses an angular distance of slightly less than or substantially equal to 90 from a position where the plastic nail-like fastening device first engages the sealing strip as represented in FIGURE 7 to a location where automatic ejection of the fastening device occurs as represented in a view of FIGURE 8. The substantially diametrically opposite slots 49 permit change of angle at the location where ejection occurs and half-circle rotation of the assembly head 50 ends during a portion of time that can be controlled by a suitable delay device as to operation of the fluid cylinder 22 and flow control valve 25. Upon ejection of a fastening device a subsequent roller 60 has entered the offset cam portion 48 and loading of a subsequent fastening device can be effected relative to a tapered hollow end portion 59 of the other of the sleeve-like reciprocable members 58. Each of the inner peripheral surfaces of the hollow tapered ends 59 can be provided with grooves or irregularities in surfacing to permit interference fit of concentric rings on a stem portion 82 of each of the fastening devices such as described in further detail in a subsequent paragraph.

The sealing strip must move more slowly than tangential rotative movement of the assembly head 50 during rotative cycling thereof so that the oblong head portion 81 of a fastening device 80 can stretch the elastomeric material of the sealing strip S sufliciently to permit the remaining or trailing end of the oblong head portion to snap fit into place at a time when ejection of the fastening device occurs from the hollow tapered end 59 of the sleeve-like reciprocable member 58. It is to be noted that the elastomeric sealing strip does not have to apply any force to pull a nail-like plastic fastening device 80 out of the hollow end 59 of the reciprocable member 58. In the angular position where ejection occurs there is simultaneous resilient biasing of the particular sleeve-like member 58 under urging of spring means 64 to effect entry of one of the roller means 60 into the offset cam portion 48 such that the tapered end 59 is retracted and thus disengaged from interference fit with the barbs or concentric rings on the stem portion 82 of each fastening device 80. Thus, the projection end 56 integral with the fixed or stationary guide portion 54 effects automatic release and ejection of the stem portion of each fastening device as the reciprocable member 58 is shifted substantially diagonally and axially or longitudinally of itself to an offset position in response to entry of the roller 60 into the offset cam portion 48. The assembly head 50 in accordance with the present invention is believed to be rugged in structure and only spring means 64 is required for effecting sharp rise and fall of roller means to follow the offset path of cam portion 48 along one side of the track 47. Mechanical sequence of operation of the components of the assembly head can be adjusted for accuracy in meeting of an oblong head portion with an aperture A in a sealing strip S according to positioning of the cam plate 46 relative to the slots 49 and bolts B and also in accordance with adjustment of coupling means 27 for the positioning of rack 26 relative to the pinion 30. The elastomeric and flexible strip means S is supported in the nest-like feeder means 68 substantially radially in alignment with the assembly head 50 and suitable chain or gear driving structure can be provided to move the feeder means 68 as required. The pair of sleeve-like reciprocable members 58 alternate between loading and inserting positions which are included in one full cycle of operation of the assembly head 50.

Details of a fastening device generally indicated by numeral 70 can be seen in further detail in FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings. This fastening device includes an elongated or substantially football-shaped oblong head portion 71 and a stem portion 72 which together provide a body of plastic material. The head portion includes integral hook-like opposite ends H remote from each other though extending in a direction toward the stem portion. The distance or length between these hook-like opposite ends in the embodiment of the fastening means illustrated by FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 can be substantially twice the diagonal distance or diameter of a plurality of concentric barb-like rings 73 integral cen- 7 trally with the stem portion 72. In the embodiment of the fastening device illustrated by FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 it is noted particularly that the stem portion 72 has a hollow interior end 74 so as to enhance resilience and facilitate flexing of an initial tapered portion 75. This initial tapered portion 75 serves as a guide for entry into a mounting panel aperture such as on a motor vehicle and an intermediate cylindrical portion 76 interconnects the initial tapered portion 75 and a secondary tapered portion 78 which extends radially outwardly still further to the outer peripheral edges of the concentric rings 73. Each of the rings 73 can be interconnected by an arcuate flared portion 79. As can be seen in the view of FIGURE 11, the head portion 71 is substantially rectangular in cross section and the hook-like opposite ends H are the only offsets provided integrally therewith.

In views of FIGURES 12, 13 and 14 of the drawings there is shown a fastening device generally indicated by numeral 8% having a body of plastic material including an oblong or elongated head portion 81 and integral stem portion 82 provided with concentric rings 83 with a solid bullet-shaped end 84. An initial tapered portion 85 interconnects the bullet-like end 84 and an intermediate cylindrical portion 86 adjacent to a secondary tapered portion 88. Each of the concentric rings 83 has a diameter substantially one-third the distance or length of the oblong head portion 81 between hooked ends 89 thereof.

It is to be noted that the oblong head portions 71 and 81 are substantially identical but that ratios thereof with respect to the diameters of the stem portions can differ so that different fastening devices can be assembled to elastomeric sealing strips S adapted to fit differing sizes of mounting panel apertures on various motor vehicles. Accordingly, the assembly head 50 is provided with the removable end cover 51 to permit use of reciprocable sleeve-like members 58 having different diameters along the hollow interior thereof so as to permit interference fit of concentric rings such as 73 and 83 relative to differing sleeve-like members 58 for mechanical insertion of fastening devices into holes or apertures A of elastomeric sealing strips S having the longitudinally extending cavity C along an underside thereof. Differing pairs of reciprocating members 58 can be substituted having differing diameters for hollow interiors thereof and it is also noted that for different vehicle installations hole s zes for mounting panel apertures can vary such as, for example, between (1144 inch diameter, 0.187 inch diameter and 0.309 inch diameter.

It is to be noted that when fastening devices are assembled on a mass production basis relative to elastomeric sealing strip means, and many such fastening devices require a stop during inserting procedure, there can be a considerable loss of time which is completely avoided in accordance with the present invention by having the assembly head 50 moving concurrently with movement of the sealing strip during the inserting procedure. When thousands of fastening devices are inserted relative to longitudinally extending sealing strip means, there can be an appreciable difierence in labor and operating costs encountered when additional stopping time is required subsequeunt to drilling or aperturing of the sealing strip means to provide lateral access to the cavity C in which the head portions of the fastening devices are to be inserted leaving only the stem portions projecting laterally to one side of the sealing strip for mounting thereof relative to a vehicle mounting panel aperture.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Inserter mechanism to assemble plastic fastening devices each with an elongated head portion to fit into holes provided for access to a continuously-extending longitudinal cavity of an extruded elastomeric sealing strip means which is movable at a predetermined speed longitudinally thereof, comprising, a rotatable assembly head journalled on a mounting portion to have the sealing strip means located substantially radially and tangentially adjace'nt to said assembly head, reciprocable means included with and carried by said assembly head to move slightly faster than movement of the sealing strip means, said reciprocable means having hollow ends temporarily to retain the fastening devices individually therewith, and a guide portion fixed to said assembly head and having an end projecting therefrom to effect fastening device ejection in response to predetermined retraction of reciprocable means upon completion of fastening device insertion during simultaneous movement of both the sealing strip means and assembly head.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said reciprocable means comprises a pair of sleeve-like members having roller means carried by one end of each thereof for following a cam track provided along one side of the mounting portion, said roller means each having a location remote from the hollow end of each member when the fastening devices are loaded and ejected in a cycle that permits loading of a fastening device on one member subsequent to ejection of a similar fastening device from the other member.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said reciprocable means comprises a pair of hollow sleeve-like members each movable in to and fro directions along said guide portion which includes a pair of substantially parallel though diagonal rods fitted in position on the assembly head that is rotatable, and cam means operatively engaged relative to one of opposite ends of each of said members to control translation of rotative movement of said assembly head into alternately concurrent reciprocable movement of one of said members to effect dynamic insertion of fastening devices individually into lateral openings of a moving sealing strip means.

4. For use on apparatus to effect assembly of plastic nail-like fastening devices to one side of a longitudinally movable sealing stripof elastomeric material apertured laterally in predetermined locations to provide access to a longitudinally extending cavity therein, an inserter mechanism comprising, a stationary mounting portion, an assembly head including a shaft-like extension rotatably journalled to said mounting portion and adapted to transmit intermittent rotative driving force to said assembly head, a pair of sleeve-like reciprocable members carried substantially parallel to each other though diagonally on said assembly head, and guide means for said members which control placement of fastening devices in response to individual shifting of said reciprocable members for assembly of fastening devices during simultaneous movement of both said assembly head rotatably and the sealing strip substantially longitudinally and tangentially thereto.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said assembly head includes a yoke portion integral with said shaft-like extension, an end cover fastened to one side of said yoke portion in a location remote from said shaft-like extension, said guide means including a pair of rod-like portions fixed in position by transverse pin means between said end cover and yoke portion, said sleeve-like members each having a pair of slot-like cutouts opposite each other through which said transverse pin means extend to limit to and fro movement of said sleeve-like members.

6. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said assembly head includes a removable end cover for access to said pair of sleeve-like reciprocable members replaceable for application of differently sized fastening devices, a roller means carried adjacent to an end of each of said reciprocable members, and a cam plate having a predetermined irregular track therein engaged by said roller means to translate rotative movement of said assembly head into reciprocable movement of said members, said cam plate having slot forming means therewith to permit adjustment of acute angular relationship to the vertical as to alternate amas /a 9 Loading and ejection positioning of said reciprocable memers.

7. The inserter mechanism of claim 4 wherein there is a hollow end surrounded by an outside taper on each of said sleeve-like reciprocable members, said hollow end serving to retain the fastening devices which are assembled to the sealing strip during rotation of said assembly head up to 90 angularly before ejection of the fastening device occurs from said hollow end.

8. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said guide means includes a pair of rod-like portions fixed in position by transverse pin means, and spring means longitudinally between each of said rod-like portions and one end of said sleeve-like members biased radially outwardly thereby particularly during load positioning and simultaneous retraction of one of the members for automatic fastening device ejection therefrom.

9. An assembly system for fitting plastic fastening devices to laterally apeztured elastomeric sealing strip means, comprising, a base portion, a reciprocable fluid actuator and flow control valve to control speed of movement effected thereby, an assembly head suitably journalled and carried relative to said base portion, power transmission means including a clutch between said actuator and said assembly head rotatable in predetermined increments in response to movement efiected thereby, and a pair of hollow sleeve-like members each movable in to and fro directions adjacent to each other as carried by said assembly head in response to rotation of said head so 10 as to effect insertion of the fastening devices into the sealing strip means Where apertured.

10. The assembly system of claim 9 wherein said power transmission means includes a rack and pinion interconnection to translate linear movement of said actuator into rotative movement, and one-way clutch means to transmit the rotative movement to said assembly head for at least alternate reversal of positioning of said sleeve-like members which serve to insert fastening devices finally ejected to the sealing strip means during simultaneously moving of strip means and of the assembly head at a greater rate of movement tangentially adjacent to the moving sealing strip means.

11. The assembly system of claim 9 wherein said assembly head moves for substantially as the predetermined increment of rotation during a latter half of which the individual fastening device is installed relative to the apertured sealing strip means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,716,804 Johnson Sept. 6, 1955 2,780,128 Rapata Feb. 5, 1957' 2,916,811 Whitecar Dec. 15, 1959 2,927,497 Rapata Mar. 8, 1960 2,987,812 Donaldson June 13, 1961 3,024,523 Donaldson Mar. 13, 1962 

1. INSERTER MECHANISM TO ASSEMBLE PLASTIC FASTENING DEVICES EACH WITH AN ELONGATED HEAD PORTION TO FIT INTO HOLES PROVIDED FOR ACCESS TO A CONTINUOUSLY-EXTENDING LONGITUDINAL CAVITY OF AN EXTRUDED ELASTOMERIC SEALING STRIP MEANS WHICH IS MOVABLE AT A PREDETERMINED SPEED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, COMPRISING, A ROTATABLE ASSEMBLY HEAD JOURNALLED ON A MOUNTING PORTION TO HAVE THE SEALING STRIP MEANS LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY AND TANGENTIALLY ADJACENT TO SAID ASSEMBLY HEAD, RECIPROCABLE MEANS INCLUDED WITH AND CARRIED BY SAID ASSEMBLY HEAD TO MOVE SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN MOVEMENT OF THE SEALING STRIP MEANS, SAID RECIPROCABLE MEANS HAVING HOLLOW ENDS TEMPORARILY TO RETAIN THE FASTENING DEVICES INDIVIDUALLY THEREWITH, AND A GUIDE PORTION FIXED TO SAID ASSEMBLY HEAD AND HAVING AN END PROJECTING THEREFROM TO EFFECT FASTENING DEVICE EJECTION IN RESPONSE TO PREDETERMINED RETRACTION OF RECIPROCABLE MEANS UPON COMPLETION OF FASTENING DEVICE INSERTION DURING SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT OF BOTH THE SEALING STRIP MEANS AND ASSEMBLY HEAD. 